This documentation covers the capabilities of CoalSVM v3.1. In this section, flowchart of the software is introduced as well as all interfaces with demo data. Flowchart of CoalSVModel is given in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Flowchart of CoalSVModel
The software consists of a total of 8 interfaces. Each interface is presented in this documentation on the tabs located below. The interface names (and section headers) are listed below: Database import, Base map, SVM input, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), 3D target meshgrid, Results, Digitizing, and Final results.
In addition to these, the export and re-run options in results are introduced in the tabs Export option and Re-run option, respectively.
Input files
In CoalSVModel, three database files are mandatory. These three files
are for Collar, Assay, and Survey
tables in the database, respectively. They are in Microsoft® Excel® csv
format and under Database files & their contents
tab each files are introduced separately.
In Digital Elevation Model (DEM) interface, user must load a topography point cloud. An illustrative example and description is given under DEM file & content tab.
Database files & their contents
Collar
In table below, a portion of collar input file is given. In this case, only first 5 drillholes are included in the table. Mandatory fields in this type of file are drillhole ID, Y (Northing), X (Easting), Z (Elevation), and maximum depth.
| DRILLHOLE_id | Y | X | Z | MAX_DEPTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH007 | 2184 | 7622 | 505.61 | 390.2 |
| BH012 | 2347 | 8645 | 586.88 | 311.35 |
| BH014 | 2390 | 7775 | 470.29 | 352.8 |
| BH016 | 2703 | 7141 | 491.64 | 537.2 |
| BH017 | 2246 | 8260 | 535.67 | 428.4 |
Assay
Assay file represents coal quality variable analysis. In below example file, MOISTURE: moisture content, ASH: ash content, S: sulfur, and LHV: lower heating values of 5 drillholes are given in depth intervals (FROM and TO). NA entries indicate blank cells.
There are 4 mandatory fields in assay file. They are drillhole id, depth from, depth to, and at least one attribute.
| DRILLHOLE_id | DEPTH_FROM | DEPTH_TO | MOISTURE | ASH | S | LHV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH007 | 0 | 105 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH007 | 105 | 183 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH007 | 183 | 251 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH007 | 251 | 349.9 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH007 | 349.9 | 353 | 12.39 | 11.08 | 0.77 | 5053 |
| BH007 | 353 | 355.2 | 14.07 | 10.84 | NA | 5004 |
| BH007 | 355.2 | 357.2 | 11.74 | 26 | NA | 3931 |
| BH007 | 357.2 | 359.7 | 13.7 | 10.99 | 1.55 | 5031 |
| BH007 | 359.7 | 364.2 | 11.46 | 7.35 | NA | 5459 |
| BH007 | 364.2 | 368.3 | 12.86 | 10.83 | 2.42 | 5112 |
| BH007 | 368.3 | 369.55 | 16.48 | 27.16 | NA | 3668 |
| BH007 | 369.55 | 369.7 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH007 | 369.7 | 373.4 | 15.04 | 24.26 | NA | 3944 |
| BH007 | 373.4 | 376.5 | 12.53 | 44.79 | 1.14 | 2443 |
| BH007 | 376.5 | 378.6 | 13.6 | 48 | NA | 2169 |
| BH007 | 378.6 | 379 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH007 | 379 | 379.55 | 12.49 | 29.94 | NA | 3652 |
| BH007 | 379.55 | 380.85 | 9.28 | 43.83 | NA | 2924 |
| BH007 | 380.85 | 381.2 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH007 | 381.2 | 382.6 | 12.28 | 54.42 | NA | 1802 |
| BH007 | 382.6 | 384.3 | 13.52 | 56.74 | NA | 1479 |
| BH007 | 384.3 | 390.2 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 0 | 88.2 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 88.2 | 88.6 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 88.6 | 90.5 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 90.5 | 91.7 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 91.7 | 93.5 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 93.5 | 94.3 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 94.3 | 212 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 212 | 212.5 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 212.5 | 213 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 213 | 213.3 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 213.3 | 219 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 219 | 219.6 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 219.6 | 222.8 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 222.8 | 224 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 224 | 224.6 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 224.6 | 225.9 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 225.9 | 226.5 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 226.5 | 284 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH012 | 284 | 311.35 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 0 | 138.4 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 138.4 | 139.15 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 139.15 | 139.9 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 139.9 | 140.9 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 140.9 | 143.55 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 143.55 | 144.7 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 144.7 | 147.3 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 147.3 | 147.9 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 147.9 | 240.8 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 240.8 | 309 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 309 | 324.6 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH014 | 324.6 | 327.5 | 15.51 | 27.12 | NA | 3441 |
| BH014 | 327.5 | 329.9 | 12.77 | 25.41 | NA | 3981 |
| BH014 | 329.9 | 334.7 | 15.44 | 10.49 | 1.26 | 4948 |
| BH014 | 334.7 | 334.8 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH014 | 334.8 | 336.2 | 15.44 | 10.49 | 1.26 | 4948 |
| BH014 | 336.2 | 337.1 | 16.48 | 47.24 | NA | 2024 |
| BH014 | 337.1 | 338 | 18.51 | 26.98 | NA | 3366 |
| BH014 | 338 | 338.4 | 13.63 | 54.05 | NA | 1626 |
| BH014 | 338.4 | 339 | 15.15 | 37.34 | NA | 2582 |
| BH014 | 339 | 339.5 | 10.46 | 61.29 | NA | 1307 |
| BH014 | 339.5 | 340 | 10.09 | 65.38 | NA | 1112 |
| BH014 | 340 | 341.4 | 17.18 | 37.39 | NA | 2756 |
| BH014 | 341.4 | 342.35 | 9.31 | 64.62 | NA | 1398 |
| BH014 | 342.35 | 342.7 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH014 | 342.7 | 343.05 | 9.31 | 64.62 | NA | 1398 |
| BH014 | 343.05 | 343.45 | 7.66 | 72.58 | NA | 822 |
| BH014 | 343.45 | 344.3 | 14 | 32.58 | NA | 3469 |
| BH014 | 344.3 | 344.55 | 9.73 | 66.69 | NA | 1215 |
| BH014 | 344.55 | 345 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH014 | 345 | 345.3 | 9.73 | 66.69 | NA | 1215 |
| BH014 | 345.3 | 346.3 | 13.26 | 46.88 | NA | 2410 |
| BH014 | 346.3 | 348.1 | 10.64 | 66.93 | NA | 1059 |
| BH014 | 348.1 | 352.8 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 0 | 94 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 94 | 211 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 211 | 211.9 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 211.9 | 212.65 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 212.65 | 212.9 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 212.9 | 215.6 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 215.6 | 216.85 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 216.85 | 217.2 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 217.2 | 326.65 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 326.65 | 328.05 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 328.05 | 330.7 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 330.7 | 332 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 332 | 333.85 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 333.85 | 335.2 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 335.2 | 337.1 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 337.1 | 386 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 386 | 509.45 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 509.45 | 510.25 | 13.5 | 8.85 | NA | 5156 |
| BH016 | 510.25 | 510.8 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH016 | 510.8 | 515.05 | 13.14 | 7.69 | NA | 5418 |
| BH016 | 515.05 | 516.55 | 27.44 | 15.61 | NA | 3657 |
| BH016 | 516.55 | 518.05 | 11.9 | 10.79 | NA | 5112 |
| BH016 | 518.05 | 519.25 | 10.6 | 48.93 | NA | 2382 |
| BH016 | 519.25 | 521.2 | 10.29 | 26.67 | NA | 3925 |
| BH016 | 521.2 | 521.5 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH016 | 521.5 | 523.15 | 15.52 | 40.49 | NA | 2473 |
| BH016 | 523.15 | 523.7 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH016 | 523.7 | 527.65 | 15.52 | 53.55 | NA | 1635 |
| BH016 | 527.65 | 529.25 | 13.72 | 48.45 | NA | 2236 |
| BH016 | 529.25 | 530.65 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH016 | 530.65 | 531.35 | 16.75 | 57.65 | NA | 1262 |
| BH016 | 531.35 | 533.7 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 533.7 | 535 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH016 | 535 | 537.2 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH017 | 0 | 75.6 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH017 | 75.6 | 76.1 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH017 | 76.1 | 76.9 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH017 | 76.9 | 78.95 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH017 | 78.95 | 80.2 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH017 | 80.2 | 185 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH017 | 185 | 260 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH017 | 260 | 391.5 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| BH017 | 391.5 | 392.75 | 12.59 | 8.83 | NA | 5239 |
| BH017 | 392.75 | 393.3 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH017 | 393.3 | 399 | 14.1 | 7.43 | NA | 5269 |
| BH017 | 399 | 406.5 | 11.94 | 6.44 | NA | 5395 |
| BH017 | 406.5 | 411.1 | 9.19 | 18.91 | NA | 4487 |
| BH017 | 411.1 | 411.6 | 21.03 | 53.47 | NA | 1249 |
| BH017 | 411.6 | 411.7 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH017 | 411.7 | 415.4 | 10.7 | 26.04 | NA | 4141 |
| BH017 | 415.4 | 418.3 | 11.84 | 46.82 | NA | 2375 |
| BH017 | 418.3 | 421 | 11.68 | 54.38 | NA | 1844 |
| BH017 | 421 | 421.4 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH017 | 421.4 | 422.8 | 8.61 | 54.92 | NA | 2150 |
| BH017 | 422.8 | 423.1 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH017 | 423.1 | 424.8 | 10.43 | 61.9 | NA | 1460 |
| BH017 | 424.8 | 425.4 | 25 | 75 | NA | 1 |
| BH017 | 425.4 | 426.4 | 10.43 | 61.92 | NA | 1460 |
| BH017 | 426.4 | 428.4 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Survey
Survey file is related to the path of the drillholes. There are four mandatory fields in this file. They are drillhole id, measured depth, dip, and azimuth. In the illustrative example below, drillhole “BH007” has five different dipping and azimuth records while all other drillhole paths are recorded as vertical (i.e. dip= -90°).
| DRILLHOLE_id | DEPTH | DIP | AZIMUTH |
|---|---|---|---|
| BH007 | 0 | -88.8 | 309.6 |
| BH007 | 6 | -88.8 | 309.6 |
| BH007 | 38 | -89 | 308.2 |
| BH007 | 68 | -88.9 | 285.9 |
| BH007 | 390.2 | -88.8 | 321.7 |
| BH012 | 311.35 | -90 | 0 |
| BH014 | 352.8 | -90 | 0 |
| BH016 | 537.2 | -90 | 0 |
| BH017 | 428.4 | -90 | 0 |
DEM file & content
DEM file, which is basically a topography point cloud file, is second input after database files. In the table below, a portion of an example DEM file is shown. The DEM is in Fixed-format ASCII.
| 4350 | 8968.758 | 340 |
| 4344.311 | 8960.365 | 340 |
| 4301.017 | 8865.362 | 340 |
| 4286.984 | 8993.738 | 340 |
| 4322.676 | 9096.142 | 340 |
| 4350 | 9189.418 | 340 |
CoalSVModel Interfaces
Database import
User starts the program by setting the working directory. This directory contains database files and Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Every output of CoalSVModel such as error and validation reports, exported files, and results are saved in this directory.
Mandatory fields in the collar file are as follows:
- Hole id: Name of each borehole,
- Easting(X): Easting coordinates of boreholes,
- Northing(Y): Northing coordinates of boreholes,
- Elevation(Z): Elevation coordinates of boreholes, and
- Depth: Total length of the boreholes.
In the database collar import, all fields are checked and validated for errors and the user is notified with a report file. All fields in this import phase except hole id must be numeric, therefore, validation algorithm only reports whether coordinate values and maximum depth are numeric or not. In Hole id field, duplicates are reported. Also, blank entries are regarded as an error. The assay file cannot be loaded until all the collar fields have been verified and successfully imported.
Assay file should be in the form of intervals. This requires each assay is defined row-wise with respect to the from and to depths for the corresponding boreholes. Mandatory fields in assay file import are as follows:
- Hole id: The connection of the Assay file with the boreholes in the Collar file is achieved by matching the hole id column in assay file,
- From: Indicates starting depth of sample that is analyzed,
- To: end depth of sample. (i.e., difference (To-From is the sample length of corresponding assay entry), and
- Attribute: analyze value of the variable at interest.
Verification, validation, and error report generation process of the Assay file is more complex and diverse compared to the Collar file. Potential errors and verification routines can be listed for each mandatory field are as follows:
- Hole id: Boreholes that exist in the assay file but not in the collar file. Same applies for the other way around. Blank entries.
- From: Nonnumerical or blank entries. Values that exceed “Depth” of corresponding borehole. Values higher than “To” values of corresponding assay entry. Duplicated “From” values.
- To: Nonnumerical or blank entries. Values that exceed “Depth” of corresponding borehole. Values lower than “From” values of corresponding assay entry. Overlapping From – To intervals. Duplicated “To” values.
- Attribute: Nonnumerical entries. The blank entries are listed as warning, not regarded as an error.
Figure 2 shows interfaces and column matching of Collar and Assay files.
Figure 2: Data Import for collar and assay interface of CoalSVModel
Next step is Survey file import (Figure 3). CoalSVModel supports directional boreholes. The Survey import generates sample locations based on Minimum Curvature Algorithm (MCA). The algorithm utilizes depth, dip, and azimuth fields in the Survey file and the easting, northing, and elevation coordinate components of Assay attribute values are calculated. In other words, MCA converts “From – To” intervals in the Assay file to cartesian coordinate system according to the depth, dip, and azimuth of corresponding boreholes.
Mandatory fields are “Hole id”, “Depth”, “Dip”, and “Azimuth”. The verification, validation, and error report generation process of the Survey file is as follows:
- Hole id: Same validation rules apply as in Assay file “Hole id”.
- Depth: Nonnumerical or blank entries. Values that exceed “Max.depth” of corresponding borehole.
- Dip: Mathematical notation for dipping angle in the program is negative. Positive values, nonnumerical or blank entries are reported as an erroneous.
- Azimuth: Values greater than 360, nonnumerical or blank entries.
Figure 3: Data Import for survey interface of CoalSVModel
Base map
In base map module, users are available to see borehole layout in 3D (Figure 4). The selected attribute is thematized with respect to the colorblind safe palette called “RdYlBu” which is generated with R Software package ’RColorBrewer’. In plot area, northing and easting coordinates are set equal by means of aspect ratio while elevation is exaggerated for the sake of visual aspects.
Borehole layout can be exported in Fixed-format ASCII (.txt), Geo-EAS ASCII(.dat), and GEOVIA Surpac (.str). All files are placed into the user defined working directory. “CoalSVModel” button proceeds with next step.
Figure 4: Basemap interface of CoalSVModel
SVM input
CoalSVModel does not utilizes raw data as it is. In order to use raw assay entries, data is processed before modelling phase. This process is adaptation of geostatistical compositing which can be described as creating equi-length averaged attributes. Prior to geostatistical estimations, such as kriging, compositing is vital for homogenization of the data scale and correction for varying sampled intervals.
Figure 5: SVM input interface of CoalSVModel
Although the methodology is basically the same as geostatistics, there are minor differences in the compositing strategy used by the program. In geostatistics, composites are only done for the attribute at interest which are located only inside the orebody. Since the program is based on determining the boundaries of veins and other layers, it is important to transfer non-lignite locations to the program as input. The program converts raw data to indicator composite values; hence it is vital to indicate sample locations are from other strata than lignite. In this case, non-lignite sample locations are also converted to equi-length samples. Thus, it is aimed to provide a homogeneous data input to the SVM classification algorithm. In non-lignite sample compositing, the same composite length is applied at 2 times the composite length in the depths below the last lignite and above the first lignite sample in each borehole in the database. Rest of the borehole is filled with non-lignite composites having length of 10 times the lignite composite length. Raw data before and after compositing is schematically represented in Figure 6.
Figure 6: CoalSVM: input data
In the algorithm, the composite size is user defined. Descriptive statistics of both raw samples and sample lengths are shown in the module window so that users can refer to statistics on raw sample length when deciding on composite size (Figure 5). In the previous Base Map module one of the purposes was to provide a visual check, while the purpose of the raw data exploratory data analysis in this module is to numerically verify whether the database was imported correctly.
Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
In CoalSVModel, like in all conventional mining software solutions, the DEM is used to determine the separation between rock and air mediums for following calculations. When the digital elevation model is loaded into the program, the topography is visualized in the module window along with the composite borehole data. In this window (Figure 7), the value of 1 in the legend of the borehole input data represents lignite (red) and 0 represents sample locations that are not lignite (cyan). The aim of this visualization is to guarantee that the user properly loaded the DEM along with borehole data. Following module is 3D target meshgrid.
Figure 7: DEM interface of CoalSVModel
3D target meshgrid
The 3D target meshgrid module has nine edit boxes that the user must enter the program. These are the minimum value for each coordinate component (easternmost, westernmost, and lowest elevation coordinate values for Y, X, and Z, respectively), the extent of the meshgrid, and the block sizes in each direction. When the meshgrid is created, the block centroids are visualized as a point cloud together with the DEM in the module window (Figure 8). By default, the algorithm applies the “grid locations not above DEM” automatically, based on the digital elevation model loaded in previous step.
Figure 8: 3D target meshgrid interface of CoalSVModel
Results
Results interface of CoalSVModel is output window is given in Figure 9. In this visualization module, a post processing is made for each of the grid centroids, according to the SVM classified modelling results. The total thickness calculated column wise is projected into 2D and visualized. Similar post processing is implemented for the second plot panel. In this plot area, contour lines are visualized, which acquired from column wise lignite top elevation values.
Figure 9: Results interface of CoalSVModel
“Re-fine” button in this interface directs user to the “Digitizing” interface.
Digitizing
Here, user digitize a polygon over desired portion of the field. Points are digitized with mouse left-click (Figure 10). After closed polygon is created, final interface of CoalSVModel is started.
Figure 10: Digitising interface of CoalSVModel
Final results
Digital elevation model is automatically clipped with previously defined polygon by default. In this re-run, 3D target meshgrid cell size is defined by user and the target locations automatically constrained by the extents of the digitized polygon (Figure 11 (left)). After run, contours are displayed (Figure 11 (right)).
Figure 11: Final results interface of CoalSVModel
Export option
Resulting contours and the boundary can be exported in GEOVIA Surpac (.str) format into the working directory (Figure 11).
Figure 12: Export option in results
GEOVIA Surpac academic licence is acquired from Hacettepe University, Department of Mining Engineering (Surpac 2022 Refresh 3).
Re-run option
This interface is modified after Digitizing interface. In addition to the digitizing interface, in this interface, the area surrounded in the previous step is displayed to the user as a dashed line (Figure 13).
Figure 13: Re-run of CoalSVModel
When digitizing in Re-run is finalized, steps are exactly same after Digitizing interface in a loop manner i.e. this process can be repeated as many times as the user desires.